Monday, November 18, 2013

I know, I know, Thanksgiving is just 9 days away and you're up to your neck in menu planning, grocery lists, and housework. But if you're looking for a fun project for your post-Thanksgiving holiday weekend, try my Christmas in the Cabin table runner. Christmas in the Cabin is a Web Extra for Quilters Newsletter's December/January 2014 issue and you can find the free pattern on QN's website. This table runner is fast and easy and perfect for using up your Christmas fabric scraps.

Don't have time to make the full table runner before Christmas? Why not make my pine tree pillow! I used pine trees left over from making my table runner. Skip ahead to steps 4 and 5 of QN's instructions to find out how to make your own pine tree panel -- just make it one tree smaller. The finished panel should measure 7 1/2" x 15 1/2".

For the border, you'll have to cut red strips as follows: 2 -- 3" x 7 1/2" and 4 -- 3" x 10 1/2". Join together 2 -- 3" x 10 1/2" strips to make a long 3" x 20 1/2" strip. Repeat with the other set. Join the 2 -- 3" x 7 1/2" strips to either short end of the pine tree panel. Press towards the red. Join the 2 -- 3" x 20 1/2" strips to the long ends of the pine tree panel and press towards the red.

I lined the pillow top with a layer of batting and a muslin panel. It's not necessary, but if you'd like to do the same, cut the lining fabric and batting to 14" x 22". Layer the lining, batting and pillow top to make a quilt sandwich. Baste and quilt. I machine quilted in the ditch around each pine tree and trunk and around the entire pine tree panel. Trim the lining and batting.

For the overlapping pillow back, cut 2 red panels -- 12 1/2" x 14". Press one short side of each backing panel toward the wrong side with a 1" fold and topstitch. Lay the pillow top on a flat surface, right side up. Position a backing panel right side down, aligning raw edges along one side. Lay the second panel right side down, aligning raw edges along the opposite side. Stitch through all layers using a 1/4" seam. Trim the corners, turn the pillow right side out, and insert a 12" x 20 pillow form.